19 June 2009

IMPORTANT NOTE: As this posts I'll be winging my way (or sitting while the plane wings its way?) toward Singapore, where I'll stop over on my way to London. For the next five weeks while I'm away, the blog will revert to a Monday-Friday posting schedule. I'll also try to post trip updates every now and then.

Well, you see, yesterday was the day I did the creative writing workshop at a local highschool (*waves to Karabar students*)! Boy, was I nervous going into this! I've never had an opportunity to talk about my writing like this before, and besides which they were paying me, so I rather felt obligated to make it worth listening to!! It wasn't really a matter of having enough to fill two hours - it was most definitely a matter of what to leave out :D

But!

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

Can we all say, 'SSSSSQQQQQUUUUUUWWWWWEEEEEEEE'? Yes, long and shouty, just like that. Go on, I want to hear you from the aeroplane %-)

This was quite simply one of the best experiences of my life. It was SO. MUCH. FUN!

Yeah, I've taught classes before, and yeah, I've even taught creative writing classes before (in May, in fact, during my prac teaching) - but *bouncebouncebounce* this was so different, and so much more fun. All the kids that were there are part of the school's creative writing club, so they all actually wanted to be there, and they all wanted to write - and I think pretty much all of us there at least read fantasy, so, as I told them, this made me feel like much less of a freak :D hehe.

I described my journey through writing to them (kinda like in this post, only less seriousness and much more entertainment and generally making a fool of myself %-) I like making a fool of myself O:)), and we talked about training yourself to get ideas on command, rather than just when you feel like it. We talked about the very basics of three act structure (call to action, midpoint, climax) and about the different ways of approaching outlining and writing, and we finished up with a discussion on How To Get Published. *bounce* Much happy joyfulness, made especially joyous because they all actually enjoyed it. Yes, I am still shocked that people find listening to me talk about writing entertaining; we all know what the reaction of normal people to this is: you bore me, go away. :P

So. Much fun was had by, I believe, all, and they wish me to return perhaps in August. I'm also now plotting ways that I can rearrange the universe so I can do this for a living %-) It's way too much fun.

Now, to all the Karabarians (ha, more new words!) who might be reading this, remember - leave a comment below mentioning you're from Karabar and I'll enter you into a draw to win a yet-to-be-determined prize, probably a critique of your work or some such. Let me know if you have suggestions for the prize ;)

And that's it for today! Wish me luck as I wander the world, and hopefully find some interesting tidbits to insert into my writing %-) There's one country in particular I'll be looking closely at, as it's the setting for Jesscapades - see if you can randomly guess which!

Hey, Katie, another Karabarian, here and I'm glad you enjoyed your workshop as much as well all did.Oh, and please, please, please come back to our school, in fact, come back and talk for a WHOLE day, we'd be there!